This Is Your Life was a really neat TV show that started in the 50s that would surprise celebrities (and sometimes citizens!) and parade their lives before them. They thought they were there for something else, and soon they'd realize they were there to be honored. People from their past, some they hadn't seen in decades, would come on the show and greet them and reminisce. There are so many of these episodes in existence thankfully, and there was even a British version! Here is the episode of Laurel and Hardy.